Lionel Messi received a warm welcome in Miami after winning his record-extending 8th Ballon d’Or award. The Argentine was in happy spirits with the academy players of the Miami-based club. Their interaction with Messi was shared on social media by Inter Miami.
In the video, Messi can be seen carrying a big black box with his 8th Ballon d’Or inside the case. As the Argentine moved towards a complex, he was welcomed with applause from all the players of the academy under different age groups.
Messi wore a smile throughout his appearance as he greeted every player in the academy. He later clicked pictures with players to inspire the next generation of the Miami club. The video shared by Inter Miami was uploaded with the caption: “Inspiring the next generation. A warm welcome for Leo Messi. This is the #FreedomToDream.”
Inspiring the next generation 💫
A warm welcome for Leo Messi ⚽️ This is the #FreedomToDream pic.twitter.com/tkwLV0xmtb
— Inter Miami CF Academy (@InterMiamiAcad) November 3, 2023
The hero’s welcome at Inter Miami was a stark contrast to Messi’s welcome at PSG after he won the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Messi himself commented that PSG didn’t acknowledge his World Cup triumph in an interview with ESPN Argentina.
“I was the only player of the [squad] that didn’t get a [club] recognition,” said Messi in the interview. Some fans pointed out that PSG did give Messi a guard of honor on his return to the club. However, the reception was far below the standard that other squad members of the national team received in their respective clubs.
The stark comparison in the latest reception for Messi was pointed out by the fans in the comments. Comments like “Damn this is so wholesome,” “Messi living his best life than he had in PSG,” “That’s awesome! Great stuff from #Messi,” and “Way better than that PSG reception one,” echoed the sentiments of the fans about the reception.
Gatorade honors Lionel Messi with eight golden bottles
Gatorade, one of the main sponsors of Lionel Messi, honored the latest triumph of the Argentine with eight golden bottles. The sports drink company sent Messi a batch of eight golden bottles that included soil from the Rosario Court.
The Rosario court holds a special place in the heart of Lionel Messi, as it was the first place where he kicked a soccer ball for the first time. This effort from Gatorade was a beautiful tribute to all the hard work and sweat put into his career by the Argentine.
View this post on Instagram
Messi uploaded a picture of these bottles on Instagram, thanking the company for their efforts. He further added that he wanted to share the other bottles with those people who helped him in his career. Those included his family, his friends, his teammates, and his mentors.
Gatorade was not the only company that celebrated this triumph, as Adidas gave Messi eight golden rings to celebrate his eight Ballon d’Or awards. They even recreated the iconic Bill Russel photo with Messi’s eight rings.
This latest triumph of Messi might be his last in the sport, considering the age of the Argentine. Apart from the polarizing views from some experts, the accolade has been celebrated by fans and brands around the world.